Fly, Cher Ami, Fly!: The Pigeon Who Saved the Lost Battalion

For Americans living in 1918, the last year of World War I, the legend of the "Lost Battalion" was a household topic. Commanded by Major Charles Whittlesey, a New York lawyer turned Army officer, the "Lost Battalion" was comprised of numerous elements of the US 77th Infantry Division. For six days during the October 1918 Meuse-Argonne offensive, the "Lost Battaltion" was cut off and surrounded by German forces in the Argonne Forest, stubbornly refusing surrender. At one point, a carrier pigeon nicknamed "Cher Ami" carried a message back to American lines which saved Whittlesey's men, who's exact position was unknown, from friendly artillery fire. Today "Cher Ami, " who died in 1919, is preserved and displayed at the Smithsonian's Museum of American History. "Fly, Cher Ami, Fly" uses this real historical event for the basis of this touching and wonderfully illustrated children's story in which "Cher Ami" carries an important message through skies fraught with danger, ultimately saving the day. Young readers will doubtless be inspired to investigate further this chapter of American history. In this regard, "Fly, Cher Ami, Fly" is not only a fine story, but a great sower of seeds.

The topic of war is a difficult one to explain to young children. It was refreshing to see how tastefully Fly, Cher Ami, Fly! dealt with this sensitive subject. This book is geared towards 4-8 year olds. I am familiar with the true events surrounding Cher Ami's final flight, and I was frankly happy and relieved that the artist showed enough good judgement and restaint, so that my five year old didn't have to see a painting of a bird with its bloody eye hanging out, leg shot off and hole through his chest the size of a quarter. Children these days are bombarded with way too many violent images, and it was a relief that the horrors of war weren't grahically depicted in this children's book. Finally, here is book that deals with the human side of war. The soldiers are young and scared. The images are symbolic. The military uniforms are historically accurate. It seems to me that both author and artist honored the story of Cher Ami on a level that is appropriate for their target audience of 4-8 year olds.